68 
ALLEN’S naturalist’s LIBRARY. 
William Evans. Two examples in the National Collection, in 
full breeding-plumage, doubtless had a Dutch origin. 
Eange outside the British Islands. — The Purple Heron nests in 
suitable localities throughout Cental and Southern Europe 
and as far north as Holland. It is likewise a resident in E'rypt 
but also passes in winter down the Nile Valley to Abyssinia’ 
and even to South Africa, where, moreover, it also breeds. Its 
eastern range is not known with exactitude, but it is probably 
the present species which breeds in Central Asia, as it certainly 
winters on the Persian Gulf, having been found at Fao by Jlr. 
W. D. Gumming. In India, however, it is represented by an 
allied species, Phoyx manilknsis, which has the fore-part of the 
throat and neck uniform rufous, without any black streaks. 
This form extends from the Indian Peninsula and Ceylon east- 
wards to Burma and Southern China up to the river Yangtze, 
and visits the Philippines, Borneo, and Celebes on its winter 
migrations. 
Habits. — The Purple Heron is a frequenter of marshy grounds, 
where it loves to skulk among the reed-beds, and it is altogether 
less in evidence than the Common Heron. I made its ac- 
quaintance in the Hansag marshes in Hungary, and obtained 
three clutches of its eggs, but the birds were difficult to flush 
and seemed to hide themselves as much as possible, till the 
approach of many boats caused them at last to take vving but 
they did not return to their nests and complain like the Night- 
Herons. They feed largely on fish, and are said to be more 
active at night-time, resting during the day in the peculiar 
way that Herons have, standing perfectly motionless with 
their long necks stretched out, in an apparently uncomfortable 
position. They also devour frogs and small rodents as well as 
water-insects and their larvie. 
Nest.— In Europe a flimsy structure of reeds, a few of which 
are placed upon rushes which are bent down to form a nest 
It IS sometimes close to the ground in shallow water but as 
often It is built upon reeds where the water is deep. In 
Ceylon, Colonel Legge has found the species nesting in trees 
along with the Great White Heron. 
Eggs.— From three to five in number, of a greenish-blue 
colour. Axis, s'l-a-q inches; diam., i-qs-i y. 
